Visits to Kent are nearly a fifth ahead of where they were last year as experts predict the county’s tourism industry is set to enjoy an Indian summer.

The increase of 18.8% to 664,067 visitors so far in 2016 was the biggest year-on-year jump since 2013 according to the montly business barometer published by tourism agency Visit Kent.

It said early indications for August show a similar picture, with several attractions reporting a rise in footfall.

As temperatures soar, the agency said September could be another “hot month for tourism business” after a slow start to the summer.

Visit Kent chief executive Sandra Matthews-Marsh said: “The UK has been up against some pretty tough circumstances this year – the shock of Brexit, awful terror incidents in Europe, and some initial poor weather.

“But Kent’s tourism industry is nothing if not resilient, and local tourism businesses have been working tirelessly to increase their marketing campaigns and heighten their already warm welcome to new UK and international visitors.

“This paid off with the arrival of the great weather in July and August, which looks set to continue into September, with coastal areas doing particularly well.”

The barometer shows coastal attractions have done best out of the good weather, with visitor numbers ahead 64.7% compared to July 2015. Rural areas were 1% up but urban areas slipped 1.4%.

Attractions which have already indicated positive figures for August include Dreamland in Margate, Penshurst Place, Rochester Castle, Sissinghurst Castle and Port Lympne Reserve and Howletts Wild Animal Park.

In July, 80% of visitors to attractions were domestic, 4.1% long haul and 15.9% European.

“The UK has been up against some pretty tough circumstances this year – the shock of Brexit, awful terror incidents in Europe, and some initial poor weather..." - Sandra Matthews-Marsh, Visit Kent

It was not all good news, though, as self-catering accommodation saw a 2.9% decrease in occupancy.

Visitor centres across the county are 6.7% behind their footfall this time last year, at 96,715.

Conferences and weddings were also down 11.8% and 7.3% respectively.

Ms Matthews-Marsh added: “The overall trend is for visitors to seek their information increasingly from online sources and social media, both in advance and during their visit. This could account in part for the small decline in visits to visitor centres.”

Visit Kent’s business barometer is compiled every month based on feedback from tourism businesses.

Around 50 attractions, 350 accommodation providers, 20 conference venues, five cross channel carriers and 14 visitor centres submit their figures to Visit Kent.